Labeling-machine.



No. 678,832. L Patented Jluly l6, mm.

P. F. CASSIW. LABELING MACHINE.

(Application med mar. 14, 1901.) (No Model.)

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8 uwontoz pawzbkifcwa No. 678,832. Patented July as, I90I.

' P. F. CASSIIW.

LABELING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mrs-v.14. 1901.) od m 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 678,832. Patented luly l6, mm. P. F. BASSIDY.

LABELING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 14, 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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Patented m I6, 1901.

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tles of different sizes.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT FFICE.

PATRICK F. OASSIDY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BOSTON BOTTLE WIRING AND LABELING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LABELING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,832, dated July 16, 1901.

Application filed March 14, 1901. Serial No. 51,087. (No model) To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK F. CASSIDY, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Labeling-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to bottlelabeling machines.

The primary object is to insure the application of paste to the extreme ends of labels.

A further object is to provide paste-holders capable of being readily removed, so that they may be protected to prevent the drying of the paste.

A further object is to prevent the depression of the label-bed save when the pasteholders have been moved away therefrom; and a further object is to provide a machine of this character with improved means for smoothing out the label on the bottle and insuring contact of the label with irregular surfaces and also to simplify the construction and operation of this class of machines.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims. 1 r

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation with parts broken away. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view with parts in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a view of one of the paste-holders. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view thereof. Fig. 7 is a detail. Figs. 8 and 9 show means for insuring adhesion of labels toirregular surfaces. 'Fig. 10'is a detail. Fig. 11 is an enlarged view in perspective of the label bed or hopper. Fig. 12 is a rear view thereof. Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section showing the central plate and labels depressed.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a standard mounted upon a base 2 and having a label bed or hopper at its top composed of two flat side plates 3 and a central plate 4, formed with interlocking fingers to permit the side plates to be adjusted laterally to accommodate between their curved edges 5 hot- The adjustment of i these side plates may be effected by any suitable means, that shown consisting of screws 6. The label bed or hopper as thus described forms the subject-matter of an application for patentfiled by me March 29, 1900, Serial No. 10,655. The central plate 4 is mounted on a spring-held rod 6 and is capable of being depressed at the proper time by pressure on a bottle resting thereon. plates 3 have front and rear portions 7, movable on the head of standard 1, the upper edges of such portions being formed with grooves wherein fit the front and rear plates 8 of two side gages. These gages embrace, in addition to the front and rear plates, adjustable parts 8 to accommodate labels of difierent sizes. They are secured at 8 -(see Figs. 11 and 13) to the upperends of pivoted arms 9, connected by links 10 to a wheel 11, mounted on a stud 12, which wheel is held as against accidental turning by a spring 13. The position and inward limit of movement of the side gages are controlled by a nut 13 on a screw-rod extending from one of the arms 9.

14 designates the paste-holders, each of which comprises a trough-like box having outwardly-extended arms united at their ends by cross-rods 15, which fit in slotted hearings on the upper ends of two arms 16, which latter are pivoted to standard 1. Near their upper ends these pivoted arms 16 extend through guides 17, which limit their outward movements. The rods 15 are held as against accidental displacement by a double spring 18, between the free ends of which the rods may be removed or inserted in removing or replacing the paste-holders. The pivoted arms 16 are connected by links 19 to a wheel 20, fast on a shaft 21, passed horizontally through the standard, and to an arm on the front end of said shaft is connected one end of a rod 22, leading from a foot-treadle 23. A spring 24 coiled on this shaft and connected to the arm and standard, holds the parts in their normal position.

Each paste-box is formed with an open bottom, wherein fits a paste-transferring roller 25, fast on a shaft 26, supported by bearings 27. The outlet of the paste is controlled by an adjustable plate 28, which fits within or between the flanges 29 on the ends of the The two side 7 roller.

These flanges prevent the paste from Working outward toward the bearings. On one end of each roller-shaft is a toothed or ratchet wheel 30, designed to engage with an adjacent rack-arm 31 after the paste-holders are thrown inward over the label-bed, so that upon the return movement, which is on a horizontal line on top of the labels, such wheels will be rotated, by engaging said rackarms, and thereby apply paste to the topmost label. Each of the rack-arms is pivoted at its outer end to a bracket and is held in an approximately horizontal position by a spring 32, so as 'to insure engagement with the wheels. On the shaft of each paste-roller are two loose wheels 33, which are designed to travel on the inclined ways formed by the upper edges of plates 8 of the side gages. When pressure is applied to the treadle, the loose wheels 33 will travel upwardly on the inclined ways until they reach the highest point thereof, when they will descend on the sharp inclines of plates 8, and the paste-rollers will engage the topmost label on either side of the transverse center thereof. On releasing the treadle the paste-rollers travel apart in opposite directions. The loose wheels engaging the ends'of the side plates 8 force the side gages laterally away from the labels, and upon said gages reaching the limit of their movement said wheels will travel up the sharp inclines and then down the inclined ways, whereupon the side gages will resume their normal position under the action of spring 13. As the paste-rollers and the paste-holders begin their return movement on a horizontal line, the toothed wheels 30 by engagement with the rack-arm 31 effect the rotation of said rollers, which latter make application of the paste to the topmost label clear to the ends of the latter, the loose wheels 33 not beginning to ride up the sharp inclines until the rollers complete the application of the paste.

Mounted on shaft 21 is the hub 34 of an arm 35, which latter is connected by a rod to the cranked end of a short shaft 36, mounted in a bracket secured to the top of the standard.

To shaft 36 is secured a forwardly-extended finger 37, designed to be lowered into engagement with the labels as soon as pressure is applied to the treadle, so as to hold them in place during the application of the paste. The hub 34 has a lug 38, with which engages a lug 39 of wheel 20, so as to actuate shaft 36 as against the tension of a spring 40 on the end thereof, which spring as soon as lug 39 disengages or is moved away from lug 38 will lower the finger against the labels.

To prevent the depressible plate 4 of the label bed or hopper from being lowered at other than the proper time-namely, after paste has been applied to the topmost label-the shaft 21 is formed with a transverse hole or opening 41, through which the rod 6 may be forced by the pressure of the bottle on the label-bed. It is obvious that this is possible only when the parts are at rest after the paste-holders have returned to their normal positions. An adjustable gage 42 to limit the rearward movement of the bottles on the label-bed is shown in the form of an arm upturned at its inner end and held in a bracket by a screw 43.

44 designates an endless belt or band for smoothing out a pasted label on a bottle. It is mounted on two crank-shafts 45, having their bearings in standard 1 and provided with two inwardly-projecting arms 46, one of which carries a pin 46 movable in a slot 47 of the other arm. A spring 48, secured to depending arms 49, holds the crank-shafts in their normal position, with the belt or band ready to receive a bottle. been placed in engagement with the pasted label and is withdrawn from the label bed or hopper it is placed on the belt by the operator,

. and the weight thereof, together with a slight pressure of the hand, is sufficient to overcome the tension of spring 48, and the belt encompassing the bottle will cause the label to be smoothed out and adhere thereto. The belt is held on each shaft by a keeper, shown in the form of a belt-wire 50, passed through the shafts and each bent to form a curved arm, between which and the shaft the belt may be passed. 1

To insure the adhesion of labels to bottles having concaved sides or ends,l place between the folds of the belt suitable pads having convexed surfaces corresponding to the concav: ity of the bottles. In Fig. 8 I have shown pad 51 formed with centraland end convexed surfaces for use in applying labels to bottles the sides and ends of which are concaved,

' while in Fig. 9 the pad 52 is shown as having convexities at its ends for use when the bottles are concaved at their ends only. In labeling round bottles the pads are not required. A pin 53,passed through the pad and the lower fold of the belt, will hold the former in position.

In practice'the side gages are adjusted to fit the labels and the side plates of the labelbed are positioned to conform to the bottles to be labeled. By pressure on the foot-treadle the two pasting devices will be thrown inwardly toward each other to or near the center of the label-bed and upon release of pressure they will travel horizontally in opposite directions to the ends of the labels, forcing ahead the side gages. During this latter movement the paste-transferrer rolls are revolved by the rack-ar|ns, and upon the outward limit of movement being reached the loose wheels will travel up the sharp inclines of the side gages and allow the latter to return to their normal positions, whereupon, the label-holding finger having been lifted, the operator will place the bottle upon the topmost label and force downward the central plate 4, which plate will return to its normal position after the bottle has been removed. The latter, with the label adhering After a bottle has thereto, is placed in the endless belt orband,

where it remains momentarilyfor smoothing out the label. 1 V

' The advantages of my invention: are apparent. It iswell known that in this class of machines if the paste is not kept stirred it will set if the machine be thrown out of operation even for a short space of time, and if left exposed will set so hard that when the machine is again started if the parts are not freed there is great danger of breakage. Each of the paste-holders being removable may when the use of the machine is temporarily suspended he placed in a receptacle and covered with a damp cloth, thus obviating the necessity of cleaning or the substitution of fresh paste-holders. By reason of the horizontal movement of the two pasting devices from the center of the label to the ends thereof a complete application of paste is had, insuring the adhesion of the pasted label to a bottle. It will also be noted that the endless belt, by which creases are removed and the label caused to adhere, may be turned on its bearings every now and then in the event of any paste adhering thereto, so as to present. a fresh surface, and that by means of the pads having surfaces conforming to the bottles contour a label will be made to adhere thereto, even though the surface of the bottle be irregular.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a labeling-machine, a label bed or hopper, paste-transferring means designed to engage the labels at or near their center and movable to the ends thereof, means for actuating said transferring means, side gages movable laterally on the label bed or hopper as the paste-transferring means travel over the labels, and means for returning said side gages totheirnormal positions at the completion of the application of the paste to a label, as set forth.

2. In a labeling-machine, a label bed or hopper, two paste-applying devices designed to engage the labels on said bed at their centers and then movable in opposite directions over the labels to the ends thereof, means for effectingsuch movements of the devices, side gages movable laterally on the labelbed as said devices travel over the labels, and means for returning said side gages to their normal positions at the completion of the application of the paste to a label, as set forth.

3. In a labeling-machine, a label bed or hopper, two paste-transferrers movable toward each other and designed to engage the labels at or near their center and then movable in opposite directions to the ends of such labels, means for effecting the application of the paste during such latter movements, actuating means for the transferrers, side gages movable laterally on the label-bed as the paste-transferrers travel to the ends of the labels, and means for returning said side gages to their normal positions at the completion of such travel of the paste-transferrers, as set forth.

4. In a labeling-machine, a label bed or turn movement of the rollers, and means for returning said side gages to their normal positions at the end of the return movement of the rollers, as set forth.

5. In a labeling-machine, a label bed or hopper, two paste-holders, paste-transferring rollers carried by the latter, means for moving said rollers toward and away from each other, inclined ways over which said holders travel in their forward movements, means for rotating said rollers during their return movements, side gages movable laterally on the label-bed during the return movement of the rollers, and means for returning said side gages to their normal positions at the completion of such return movement of the rollers, as set forth.

6. In a labeling-machine, a label bed or hopper, two paste-holders, paste-transferring rollers carried by the latter, means for moving said rollers toward and away from each other, inclined ways over which said holders travel, a second set of inclined ways leading from the first-mentioned ways and terminating near the center of thelabel-bed, said ways being moved laterally by the holders on the return thereof, and means for rotating said rollers during such return movements, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the label bed or hopper and the side gages having inclined ways, of the paste -holders having wheels movable on said ways, paste-transferring rollers, mechanism connected to said holders for throwing them to the center of the bed, and means for returning said paste-holders horizontally over said bed, said side gages being moved by said holders on the return thereof, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the label bed or hopper, the side gages having limited lateral movements, means connected to said side gages for holding the m in their normal positions, of the paste-holders having paste-transferring rollers, means for positioning said hopper, the side gages and means connected.

to the latter for holding them in their normal positions, said side gages having inclined ed into said opening,-a toothed wheel carriedwheelsfor traveling on said'ways, means for moving said holders into position on said bed between said gages, means for moving said holders outwardlyhorizontally over said bed, said side gages being thereby moved laterally, and means for'rotating said rollers-during the horizontal movement of the pasteholders, substantiallyas set forth.

. 10. The combination with the paste-holder having an openingin its bottom, of the transferrer-roller carried by the holder and extendby said roller, means for moving said holder in opposite directions, means for bodily ele- Vatingsaid paste-holder and roller during one of such movement-s, and a rack-bar with which said toothed wheel engages du ring the other of such movements, as set forth.

11. The combination with the front and rear plates formed with inclined ways, of the paste-holders, transferrer-rollers, shafts to which said rollers are secured, wheels loose on said shafts for traveling on said ways, toothed wheels fast on said shafts, rack-arms with which said toothed wheels are designed to engage, and means for actuating the pasteholders, substantially as set forth.

, 12. The combination with the label bed or hopper, of the side gages; pivoted arms secured to the latter, a spring-held wheel, links connecting said arms to' said wheel whereby said side gages are normally drawn toward each other, adjusting means secured to one of said arms for controlling the position of said gages, paste-holders having transferrer-rollers, means for positioning said holders on said bed between said side gages, means for returning said paste-holders as against the resistance of the holding means of the side gages, and means for actuating said rollers during such return movements, substantially as set forth.

13. In a labeling-machine, the combination with the label-bed having inclined guideways extending from its sides toward its center, of the paste-holders having wheels for traveling on said guideways, the carryingarms, means for detachably and pivotally securing each paste-holder at a point beyond one side thereof to one of said arms; and means for actuating said arms toward and away from each other, as set forth.

14:. In a labeling-machine, the combination with the label-bed having inclined guideways extending from its sides toward'its center, of the two paste-holders having each outwardlyprojecting arms,cross-rods between said arms, wheels carried by said holders for traveling on said guideways, two carrying-arms having bearings in their upper ends for said rods, and yielding holders mounted on said arms for retaining said rods in said bearings, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with the label-bed having a depressible section, and a spring-held rod secured to said section, paste holders and transferrers and actuating mechanism there for' comprising a shaft having an opening designed to coincide with said roid when the parts are at rest, substantially asset forth.

16. In a labeling-machine, an endless band or belt designed to'partlyencircle a bottle having a pasted label thereon, bearings for said band extending through the folds thereof, means for guiding andilimiting the movement of said bearings, and a spring connection between the latter for normally holding said band extended, as; set forth.

17. In a labeling-machine, ansendless band or belt designed to partly encircle a bottle having a pasted label 'thereongcrank-shafts extended through the folds of said band formin g bearings therefor, and a spring connection betweensaidsh'afts forseparating the bearings, substantiallyas set forth.

18. In a labeling-machine, a band or belt designed to partly: encircle a bottle having a pasted label thereon,.crank-:shafts forming bearings for-said 'band', guiding-arms secured tosaid crank-shafts,anid-a spring acting to force the bearings apart,isubstantially as set forth. i I P.

19. In' a labeling-machi-ne, means for embracinga bottle transversely thereof for affixing a pasted label thereto,'having both regular and irregular contours conforming to regular and i'rregular'surfaces of that portion of the bottle engaged by the embracing means, as set forth.

20. In a labeling-machine, means for embracing a 'bottle transversely thereof for affixing a pasted labTelithereto, comprising a band or belt and a removable pad carried thereby having an irregular contour conforming to irregular surfaces of that portion of the bottle engaged by the band or belt, as set forth.

21. In a labeling-machine, means for embracing a bottle for affixing a pasted label thereto, comprising an endless band or belt, a pad Within said belt having an irregular contourconforming to that of the bottle, and means for removably securing such pad, substantially as set forth.

' 22. The combination with the label-bed and the spring-heldactuating-shaft, of a finger designed to be lowered against said bed, a spring-held shaft carrying said finger, an arm on said actuating-shaft, a connection between said arm and said springheld shaft, and means carried by-said actuating-shaft for moving said arm to raise said finger from the label-bed, asset forth. a In' testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the'presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PATRICK F. OASSIDY.

Witnesses: h

ELIZABETH R. PORTER, GEORGE A. FLYNN. 

